ISLAMABAD: The new year has arrived, but bank doors across Pakistan will remain closed on Thursday as the State Bank of Pakistan observes its annual bank holiday, pausing public banking services nationwide.
While customers will find counters closed, bank staff will be working behind the scenes to keep the system running, serving as a reminder that this is a bank holiday, not a general day off.
The central bank has announced that Thursday, January 1, 2026, will be a mandatory annual bank holiday, halting all public banking services across the country. On this day, all commercial banks, Development Finance Institutions, and Microfinance Banks will remain closed for customer transactions.
Bank staff will continue internal work such as clearing, reconciliation, and accounting to ensure backend operations proceed without interruption.
This holiday is specific to banks and does not apply to other institutions, meaning most government offices, private businesses, and organizations will remain open on January 1.
The annual bank holiday is observed every year in Pakistan, and customers are advised to plan their banking activities ahead of time to avoid inconvenience.